What Kind Of Mother Were You Going To Be?

Before Stella, I talked up what a minimalist mother I was going to be.  Who needs piles of toys?  My kids were going to collect sticks and play with spatulas and rolling pins.  If you want to get them gifts, books only please. 

But a swing is great for a fussy baby and a bouncer helps too.  Before long sitting in a Bumbo provides a different way to see the world.  Then all those excellent mothers I know swore by different baby products.  Then there was that steal on Craigslist and something we couldn't  pass up on the street ("Are they really throwing away that Hotwheels jeep?") and the gifts. 

And before I knew it we accumulated a lot of stuff.  Guess we'll just make a small fortune reselling it after our baby years are behind us. 

HACKED!

what the heck happened to our blog?  is someone playing a joke on me or did i accidentally make it look like this!?

i better get it back to my crisp, clean white background asap.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving isn't ALL about the food.  But pretty close. 

This year we broke tradition (Thanksgiving at my parents' house) and went out my uncle's new house palace.  Dinner was FANTASTIC.  Ohhhhh, the food.  Jason said this was the best meal he's ever had...or something like that.  Here's a quick run down so I can read this and reminisce in March.  

- french onion soup (my favorite) or italian wedding soup (tough choice)

- fried turkeys (glad I finally got to try one but I may prefer traditional)

- mashed potatoes

- sweet potatoes (not in the usual sugary sauce but still sweet.  loved them!)

- sausage stuffing (i just started to salivate)

- creamed spinach

- artichoke casserole

- peas with onion and prosciutto (you didn't know peas could be this good)

- homemade rolls

- corn casserole (paula deen knows what she's doing.  this dish change you life.)

I regret dressing Anton in his Christmas outfit and not in our pink/blue color scheme.  I also regret not doing my hair.

We stayed over a few days which made it feel like a vacation.  We lounged around, went for a walk on the beach and Stella played with their patient Boston Terriers.  It was lovely.

oh thankful day.

- stella was somewhat quiet during sacrament meeting.  when she wasn't quiet she was being pretty flippin' cute. 

- the babies napped at the same time.  i napped too.

- the weather was perfect so we went for a long walk with friends.

- noelle snuggled with anton.  he was in heaven. (check the picture. also check out her adorable two tone nails.  love.)

- we had grilled steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions for dinner, and big diet cokes with snikers bars for dessert (better combinations do not exist).

- i got a lot of help with the babies.

 and now i'm off to bed, what could be better than that?

Rock Your Title

1. Listed, random thought blog posts are almost always my favorites to read. 

2. I think I need this dress.

3. Noelle and Matt are teaching me how to use the internet better.  I realize that's lame.  Little things that I've maybe forgotten like opening multiple tabs while shopping, taking screen shots and uploading videos.

Turn down your volume, I wasn't thinking when I help the camera right by my face. I'm trying to teach her about privacy (a bathroom thing) and she now loves reading in privacy (adorable!). And yelling, "Shtop," is Stella's new thing. I prefer it to "No!"     

4. I sometimes forget that Stella's still a baby because she is extremely capable.  Like today I asked her to go upstairs and get me diapers for Anton.  And she did it.  But she's 19 months so really I shouldn't be sending her on errands around the house, especially ones that involve stairs.  (safety note: my mom supervised the stair part).   

5. My friend Halloween costume was so clever.  Can you tell what she is?  She was told me I was part of the *inspiration.

6.  Jason and I are talking about having a small Christmas for the kids.  But it is so hard.  I love too many brands...Melissa & Doug, B.Toys, Young Explorers, Manhattan Toys.  And so many of the toys are educational. That gets me EVERY time.  I want to get puzzles, art supplies, new books, toy cars, dress up clothes, puppets, and a pony!  Ok, I'm kidding about the pony but it's easy to get carried away. 

7. The filters on Instagram make it one of my favorite iPhone apps.  Do you have a favorite?

 

8.  I need a new blog title.  Clearly I wasn't thinking ahead when I titled it, "Stella's World."  Suggestions are welcome.

*A stressed out, young mother.  

(Every Other) Weekend Happenings.

Every 10-12 days Jason comes to New York to see us.   I don't know who's happier about it, me or the babies?

Bedtimes.

 

This family picture tells it all.  Even with M&M bribes (look closely below) couldn't keep Stella seated next to us. 

When you try to take pictures of one baby while holding the other...

Got A Nice Little Saturday Planned.

Nothing beats taking the babies to Costco.  

They love sitting side-by-side in the cart.  I love free samples.  Win-win.

I have a feeling we'll be there a lot this winter (too many germs at the library).

I realize these photos make it look like Stella is constantly bugging her brother but, believe me, he eats it up. 

Well Above Average.

Due to his premie status, Anton started his journey on earth ~3 pounds smaller than Stella.  To me he was super tiny.  But to the charts, at almost 8 lbs, he was completely average.

BUT NOT FOR LONG.

Anton quickly made it to the top of the height curve.  And coming in at almost 25 pounds, he's way above the weight curve too.  

That means if we are ever in a room with 100 other 6 month olds, Anton would be the biggest one. 

My arms and back believe it. 

2 months

3months

 4months

5months

6months

Surprises....with perfect timing.

This hasn't been my finest week. Jason completed 1/4 of his training in Georgia. Which means we still have 3 months without him. The separation is especially hard on Stella. She is an anxious mess before nap and bedtime, and screams hysterically for 30-45 minutes before falling asleep (trust me, this was a last option). Both she and Anton have been sick for almost three weeks (see below) with the cold from Hell, which morphed into Bronchiolitis. Anton's being a pretty good sport but the memories of my happy little boy are becoming hazier. To boot, we are supposed to go to Utah next weekend but we may have to cancel so Anton's head doesn't explode on the airplane.

But it isn't all bad. Trivial as it may seem, I got these in the mail last week....

My mother-in-law has great taste and good timing.  As comfortable as they are cute, these wedges were exactly the pick me up I needed.
*I'm hoping in person a bright pedicure will distract from my veiny feet.

Georgia...Georgia...(think Ray Charles)

Jason is training in Georgia.  We are in Westchester, living with my family.  My entire family.

Jason came to visit and for the 24 hours he was here, the babies were in heaven.

Is It Possible That We're ALL Right?

ALL moms think it and... I get where they're coming from but...

 

My babies are the cutest babies.  Ever. 

The Sick House

Stella and Anton are getting over nasty colds.  No appetite, runny noses, whooping cough, sneezing, cranky, up all night colds.  Grammy saved the day with a little pillow throne for Anton to sleep on.   

 Adjusting back to the pack n' play might be ugly.

True or False

We had the best Chinese food last week and I just found a misplaced fortune cookie.  

True....in 2014.  But today, at Flag Day, Jason was given this. 

Yes, friends, that is the New York State flag.  

Or in other words, after training we're heading home. 

Built to Withstand Sisterly Love

Here is my full figured guy watching T.V.  

While I got distracted texting this picture to our family, Stella plopped herself right in his lap and held his hand. 

 

He loved it.  

Jason edited my last blog post...

Or in other words, he isn't sure what I can blog about his new position.
Or in other, other words, he suggested making our blog private.  !

I am totally not a private person.  Don't get me wrong, I understand it.  But I find myself terribly disappointed when clicking from blog to blog and I'm thwarted by a private one. I don't want to be that blog.

While we decide, I'll just link to the government website.
That must be permitted, right?  Jason's New Job.

Here we are In D.C.(Falls Church to be precise)

Or in other words...Jason started his training for the foreign service .

Here is a glimpse of what we've been up to (according to my iPhone)...

Giggling.

These two adore each other. I recommend having babies 12 months apart. Really.

Celebrating 33 fabulous years.

I love this birthday boy and know this year is going to be amazing.

Taking a General Conference Sunday drive.

The temple was gorgeous even on an a deary day.

Cuddling.

There is no one I'd rather be worn out with.

Three Oh!

tomorrow i turn 30.  i'm excited. 

excited to get my hair cut.  to eat haagen dazs mint chip ice cream (saw it in the freezer).  to go on vacation with jason.  just jason.

If I didn't blog it, it didn't happen.

The following are abbreviations of post I've been meaning to get to.    

Post 1.  Obnoxious Things People Have Said To Me Recently
This is just the most recent...at 7 a.m. as I push my two adorable children to the park, "Jeeze, enough babies?"  Are you kidding me?  Enough?  Do you need to look again?  There are only two.  Not twelve.  "For now," was all I said.

*I try to give A time on the upper deck but S is too tall for the jump seat.

Post 2.  And We're Out
Jason accepted a job with the Foreign Service.  Hooray/Oh Crap!  We leave at the end of the month for ten months of training and then a lifetime of moving.  Of course, there is much more to it than moving to a different far-away land every other year, leaving friends and "home" behind, with two little babies in tow but I'm kind of hung up on that part.  (This really deserves an entire post.)

Post 3.  Meg's Takes Manhattan
Jason's little sister spent a week with us and it was awesome--shopping, trying Thai food, Jersey Shore 101 (and giving ourselves JS names), swimming, playgrounds, Patsy's, How To Succeed In Business, a Mets game, 3 movies, and way too many cookies.  Did I mention the bambinos love her?

Now we need Ali, Jordan and Deven to come visit. 

Post 4.  Style-less Lament
I haven't had a hair style for at least five years.  I was in a relationship with a great stylist until she got carpal tunnel.  Occupational hazard.  It's been me and my claw clip ever since.   But Jason loves me and arranged for a special birthday hair cut.  (This will get it's own post).

Sorry about the butt picture but it is irrefutable evidence that I need an intervention--Lululemons & the claw-clip.  

Post 5.  Stella's New Words
Even though her favorite word is still "no," Stella also says bye, hello, daddy, please, up, oh no, ut oh, open, pool, duck, airplane, more, help, nose, treat, thank you and various animal sounds.  She also nods "yes" and "no" which I find adorable and "talks" in long, passionate streams.

S also likes to dress, feed and clean A. 

Post 6.  Irene
The great Tropical Drizzle of 2011.  At least in Manhattan.  I know New Jersey got another side of Irene and my parents were without power for 4 days but I was disappointed in the lack of action.

Post 7.  Blog Title
It is no longer "Stella's World."  It hasn't been for months--5 to be precise.  As soon as I have a clever, or even a clear, moment, I'm going to re title this blog.  Suggestions are welcome.

Post 8.  How did this happen?    

Did You Really Ask That?

In the past week, three people have asked me if Anton and Stella are twins.  My responses are kind.  But, honestly?  Twins?  As in born at the same time?  I'm working on being more understanding.  After all they are both babies.

Then I opened my iPhoto to export a shot of them together (basically impossible to catch) and found these pictures. 

3/31/11 ~4:00.  I hoped to wear make-up for this birth.  Maybe even do my hair.  I was lucky to make it to the hospital.  

4/2/11 ~6:00

Stella's first birthday party.  























My prediction is that in a very short time (a year?) we'll be asked if they are twins at least once a week.